CORYTON IMPRISONED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 374, 7 June 1928, Page 13

CORYTON IMPRISONED

ROLLS ROYCE SWINDLER JUDGE CRITICISES “VULGAR ADVENTURER” Press Association NAPIER, Wednesday. Found guilty in the Supreme Court to-day, Colin Coryton was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment with hard labour on the charge that about April 5, at Rotorua, he obtained from Mrs. Helen Caroline Lowry the sum of £3OO by falsely representing that he had a letter of credit for £I,OOO at the National Bank of New Zealand at Nelson. Cross-examining Mrs. Lowry counsel for accused said: “I put it to you that you were sympathetic to this young man.” Mrs. Lowry: Well, I am known as the most sympathetic and foolish woman in New Zealand. Counsel: I agree with you as to the first portion of your answer. Mrs. Lowry: This is the last time, though. No evidence was called for the defence. Counsel contended that misrepresentation with regard to the letter of credit did not induce Mrs. Lowry to lend money. He suggested that in (his case it was Mrs. Lowry’s generous desire to help Coryton more than anything else that induced her to lend money on the security of a Rolls Royce car. Mr. Justice Ostler pointed out that Coryton admitted to the police that he told Mrs. Lowry he had a letter of credit, and Mrs. Lowry said in evidence that she lent the money on that assurance. The fact that she had enough business instinct when making the loan to get a promissory note and the security of a car was not at all inconsistent with her statement that she was induced to make a loan ou a false representation.

The jury took 15 minutes to reach the verdict of guilty. Iu passing sentence his Honour said it looked to him as though accused had been little better than a vulgar adventurer, living beyond his means. M e in New Zealand appreciate plain folk and know their true worth.” said the Judge, addressing Coryton, “but you have been a mean impostor, travelling about the country in a Rolls Royce car with a man servant, leaving behind a train of debt. It is in the publi interest that you should receive a sharp lesson.”